Indie Design Gift-A-Long 2016

I'm so pleased to be participating again in this year's Indie Design Gift-A-Long event that runs from 8pm EST tonight through end of day November 30! I'll be taking a little bit of time over the next few days to share a little more info about each of the designs I'm including in the sale (See the end of this post for your first installment!).

It's Good to Be Back

I know it's been very quiet around here lately. I had been planning to take a little hiatus from designing during Oct-Dec this year, which happened to work out very well with some other responsibilities that unexpectedly cropped up.
At the beginning of October (the 7th to be exact) my mother was diagnosed with a very large tumor arising from her right kidney. It had grown to a very large size, without her even knowing it was there, and was squishing her other organs. While this was a very scary diagnosis, none of us had much time to fret--her surgery was promptly scheduled for Oct 17th. We are extremely lucky to live in the DFW area and have easy access to UT Southwestern Medical Center--one of only two hospitals in the country equipped to handle this type of surgery.
Her surgeon and the entire surgical team and nursing staff were exceptional from start to finish. The procedure took 4 hours, just as expected and they were able to remove the entire mass, including her right kidney (which wasn't functioning anyway). She spent just 4 days in the hospital recovering before being released to continue healing at home.
After the pathology report came back and she was able to meet with her surgeon and an oncologist, they are confident that all of the cancer was removed and that she needs no further treatment at this time! The type of kidney cancer she had was quite rare (only about 5% of cases) but is the most treatable and least invasive type. She will be closely monitored for the next 5 years to ensure that nothing else crops up, but we could not have asked for a better outcome. It has been about 5 weeks since her surgery and she is feeling much better--although she's still somewhat sore and tires more easily than before. We are extremely thankful for her fantastic recovery and for all of those who prayed for her and our family and sent their best wishes our way.
We are grateful for our blessings!

Gift-A-Long News

Later this week I'll share a bit more about some of the other exciting things that are going on around here, but for now--a quick run down of a few of the patterns for sale during the Indie Design Gift-A-Long from my shop! You can use the coupon code giftalong2016 to take 25% off through Nov 30. Click here to view the full selection.

Gilded Flicker is a quick-to-knit shawl/wrap worked in cozy garter stitch throughout. Tiny flickering diamond motifs are scattered the length of the shawl, making this a perfectly seasonal appropriate accessory. Knit it in a neutral for a new go-to accessory that goes with everything, or in a fun bright color to add sparkle to any outfit!

Another seasonal favorite is the Christmas Morning Vest. Knit one for all of your favorite muggles (and forget the sleeves--who has time to knit those if your magical knitting needles are on the fritz?) In sizes for the whole family, this enchanting design is great for holiday family photos!

One of my very favorite patterns is Perdrix--a cushy, cabled confection knit in sport weight yarn. These are a great accessory for those chilly winter days when you still want to have a bit of flair AND a warm head.

And finally, the last pattern I want to feature today is the Fabled Forest Hat. These whimsical toppers knit up lightning quick in heavy worsted weight yarn, and the pompoms are just too cute for words! These make excellent Christmas gifts for all your favorite little (and big) elves!

Hi and welcome to A Lovely Homemade Life! I'm Jennie--a stay at home mom to two beautiful kiddos, Luca and Isla, and wife to Michael. Sometimes our life feels sort of crazy, but it's always crafty! Follow along for all sorts of posts about our crafting adventures!